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2007 Brandborg Bench Lands Pinot Noir Bronze Medal 2008 Umpqua Valley Gewurztraminer Gold Medal 2008 Umpqua Valley Riesling Silver Medal

WINNERS OF RAY’S BOATHOUSE 23rd ANNUAL

RETROSPECTIVE OF NORTHWEST WINES COMPETITION ANNOUNCED

Winning Wines presented at the Retrospective Dinner on Friday, January 29, 2010

 Seattle, Washington – Every January, Ray’s Boathouse Restaurant on Shilshole Bay in Seattle, Washington conducts its Retrospective of Northwest Wines Competition and Dinner. Now in its 23rd year, this wine-lover’s event has uncovered hidden gems from up-and-coming wineries, as well as reaffirmed the well-deserved praise earned by established wineries.

 On January 5-6, 2010, Ray’s wine director Richard Kelsey assembled a panel of judges consisting of sommeliers, wine writers and local wine experts to blind-taste Northwest wines released in 2009. The wines were submitted for judging by the winemakers and their distributors. All Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia wineries that produce grape-based wines were eligible to participate. This year, 479 wines were submitted. The categories for entry were Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, White Blends, Dry Whites, Aromatic Whites, Dessert, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Red Blends, Syrah, and Single Varietal Reds. During the blind-tasting, the judges meticulously evaluated the wines for characteristics such as flavor, texture, aroma and finish. Each judge assigned a numerical score based on their evaluation. The wines with the highest combined scores won.

 The top-scoring wines are then artfully paired with a delicious menu created by Ray’s Executive Chef Peter Birk and presented in Ray’s waterfront banquet room with the winning winemakers in attendance. The 23rd annual Retrospective Dinner will be held on Friday, January 29, 2010, beginning at 6:30 PM. The dinner is open to the public. Cost is $125.00 per person, includes tax and gratuity. For reservations, please call (206) 789-6309.

 This year’s winners in each category are:

 Chardonnay: Dusted Valley Vintners Old Vine Chardonnay, Yakima Valley 2008

Pinot Gris: Panther Creek Cellars Pinot Gris, Oregon 2008

White Blends: Westport Winery Bordello Blonde, Washington 2008

Dry Whites: Hogue Cellars Genesis Viognier, Columbia Valley 2008

Aromatic Whites: Brandborg Gewürztraminer, Umpqua Valley 2008

Dessert: Gilbert Cellars Grenache Ice Wine, Columbia Valley 2008

Cabernet Sauvignon: Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2006

Merlot: Barrage Cellars Trifecta Merlot, Columbia Valley 2007

Pinot Noir: Stoller SV Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2006

Red Blends: Whitman Cellars Narcissa Red, Walla Walla Valley 2005
Syrah: Powers Winery Cougar Vineyard Reserve Syrah, Wahluke Slope 2006
Single Varietal Reds: Pend d’Oreille Winery Primitivo, Coyote Canyon, Washington 2007

"COOLEST, COOL CLIMATE VARIETALS"

ELKTON, OREGON

Our site is very cool. We are one of 9 reference vineyards that are scattered throughout the Umpqua that participate in an ongoing research project. We are collecting climate and phenology data from each of the sites. Our site is the coolest of the nine and our growing degree days have not reached the 2000 growing degree days that are the minimum threshold to be classified as a region I. Region I is generally considered to be the only climate cool enough to grow top quality pinot noir. We are farming on the edge, and that is what always gives the most distinctive grapes, stretching the ripening curve to the very last minute.